Odd Prague - the TV tower

There are enough visually weird things we've encountered around the city that I decided they should have their own album, called "Odd Prague." I've been adding a picture here and there as I came across something strange.

But today the girls and I went to what might be the oddest thing we'll see in Prague - the TV Tower.

We live very close to the TV tower. Not quite in its shadow, but close. You can see the TV tower from all over Prague - naturally, since it is the tallest thing around.

Situated in Mahler Gardens in Prague's working-class Zizkov district, the TV Tower is one of the most fascinating buildings in the Czech capital - an experience not to be missed. It's a voyage back in time, yet also forward into an alternative future - one planned by the Communists in the 1970s1 that never came to full fruition. It's Prague's answer to London's BT Tower - a space-age rocket or needle 200 metres tall, conceived as a grand vision in 1978 and built between 1985 and 1992. Which, ironically, meant that the grand monument to the Communist technological future was only fully functional after the Velvet Revolution and the downfall of Communism - it has since acquired the nickname of 'Husak's finger'.

When it was built, the Tower was very unpopular among Prague residents - firstly, it was considered a modern eyesore casting a shadow over the Old Town; secondly, people suddenly found that the signals from West German TV stations had been jammed; and thirdly there were worries about the radioactivity given off by the transmitter. from BBC's h2g2 website

People said the viewing platform of the TV tower had the best views of Prague, because you couldn't see the tower when you were in it....

So, what do you do if you have a tower that everyone hates looming over your picturesque Old Town? You get an artist to decorate it! I can imagine the conversation between "The Powers that Be" and the chosen artist, David Cerny.

TPTB: Mr. Cerny, everyone hates the tower. We need to fix it up so people like the tower. What do you suggest?

Mr. Cerny: Well, we could decorate it in some way. Paint it a pretty color, or add something nice. What about flowers? Everyone likes flowers....

TPTB: Flowers, hmmm? Maybe... But my wife is allergic to flowers - she doesn't like them. But I think you're on to something. What does everyone like? Beer? No, that's not quite it... Babies! Yes, that's it! Let's put some babies on the tower! No one can object to babies!

So, Mr. Cerny designed 12 giant bronze babies and installed them in 2000 when Prague was an "European City of Culture." They were supposed to be temporary, but everyone liked them so much (everyone likes babies!) that they will be there for at least 10 years.

The view from the tower was very nice, but the glass was distorted so my photos didn't turn out that well. But I got photos of the babies. Everyone likes babies!